Hi!
I'm fairly new here, so this might have been done before. If so, sorry about that. I'm a big fan of TL-191, but the way that Japan was basically identical to OTL except that it was also a gigantic Karma Houdini annoyed me. Especially as its war with America made no sense - why go to war with a bigger power over such a meagre reward as the Sandwich Islands? So I came up with a different path for Japan to take.
This isn't a fully developed timeline (or anywhere near it), just an overview of events. Also, I'm assuming that the Meiji Restoration happened as OTL since Turtledove did, and I've got OTL figures mentioned since, well, in TL-191 a lot of people seemed to be immune to butterflies.
[FONT="]1853-1854[/FONT]
[FONT="]Commodore Matthew Galbraith Perry leads a United States naval and diplomatic mission to Japan.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1868-1869[/FONT]
[FONT="]Boshin War: partisans of the Tokugawa Shogunate confront pro-imperial forces.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The war ends with an imperial victory and the Meiji Restoration.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1894-1895[/FONT]
[FONT="] Sino-Japanese War: Japan takes Liaodong Peninsula, Formosa and Hainan. [/FONT]
[FONT="]1901[/FONT]
[FONT="]Spanish-Japanese War[/FONT]
[FONT="]Defeat of Spanish fleet at Battle of Luzon Strait by Combined Fleet under Admiral Togo Heihachiro.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese land forces drive Spanish forces from the islands in a three-month campaign. The land portion of the war inspires the composition of the popular war song ‘Senyuu’, ‘Comrade-in-arms’.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Empire of Japan formally annexes Guam and the Philippines, with a Japanese Governor-General being installed in Manila.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1902[/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of Japanese settlement of Luzon, Mindoro and the Visayas. In exchange for recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the islands, the Moro people are given a wide range of autonomy in Mindanao, and the island is kept clear of Japanese colonists.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A series of negotiations takes place between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire. Ultimately, Japan recognises Russian interests in Manchuria, in exchange for a formal recognition from Russia that Korea lies within Japan’s sphere of influence.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1903-1907[/FONT]
[FONT="]This period sees considerable Japanese investment in the Philippines, Formosa and Hainan. Projects to improve sanitation in the cities begin (British experts are contracted to build storm drains and sewers), public clinics are opened, training programmes begin to educate native doctors and nurses (provided they learn Japanese), economic and industrial expansion begins. This is particularly evident in the Philippines, with the opening of new mines and the construction of blast furnaces to better take advantage of the islands’ metal wealth.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1907[/FONT]
[FONT="]Protectorate established over the Empire of Korea. Prince Ito Hirobumi becomes Resident-General.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1909[/FONT]
[FONT="]Attempted assassination of Prince Ito Hirobumi by Korean nationalist An Jung-geun fails – his realisation of the strength of Korean nationalism leads him to argue for maintaining the protectorate rather than annexing Korea. The death penalty is withheld after the Prince enters a plea for clemency in his trial – An’s sentence is commuted to ten years’ hard labour.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Empire of Korea is ultimately not annexed. Though Japan continues to exert a great deal of political and economic influence over the peninsula, it remains de jure an independent nation.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1914-1918[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Great War.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan participates on the side of the Entente, though does not formally join the alliance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]At war’s end, Japan is able to withdraw without making concessions – Germany is too exhausted militarily and financially to attempt to recover Tsingtao and the Micronesian islands, and in any case the gains made in Africa and Eastern Europe more than make up for any losses in the Far East.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1916[/FONT]
[FONT="]Battle of Three Navies: IJN Combined Fleet under Admiral Togo joins with a Royal Navy task force in an attempted attack on the Sandwich Islands. Battle is a draw, though a victory for the United States as Anglo-Japanese forces are unable to continue their advance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Among the Japanese forces is Kaigun Daii (Lieutenant) Takano Isoroku, serving aboard the cruiser Yakumo. As well as losing his left eye in this battle, he pays particular attention to the use of scouting aircraft by the Americans…[/FONT]
[FONT="]1919[/FONT]
[FONT="]The deteriorating internal situations in France – marred by near-civil war between Socialist groups and right-wing militias – and Russia lead Japan to occupy Sakhalin Island and French Indochina, in the ‘interest of regional peace and security’. Though both nations protest vehemently, they are unable to intervene – restrictions on the French military and an ongoing Red rebellion in Russia prevent both nations taking any military action.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With regard to France, Japan softens the blow with a ‘compensatory payment’ and by agreeing to purchase the dreadnaught battleships Courbet, France and Jean-Bart (which France was going to be compelled to scrap anyway, under the terms of the peace with Germany). These ships will later be refitted as Mikasa, Fuji and Asahi. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Lieutenant-Commander Takano Isoroku is sent – by the Imperial Japanese Navy – to study at University of Richmond. While in the Confederacy, he travels widely, including to the Empire of Mexico and to the United States.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1920[/FONT]
[FONT="]Establishment of Empire of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty and the Kingdom of Laos. Both nations sign a series of treaties with Japan, effectively becoming semi-protectorates (somewhat more autonomous than Korea) and agreeing to provide resources at cheap prices.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Uprising in Korea by Christian republicans against the Japanese-backed Kingdom – order is restored after three months of fighting. The Army presses strongly for annexation, but ultimately the protectorate is maintained.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Fearing a Japanese assault on the East Indies, the Netherlands applies for membership in Germany’s Mitteleuropa alliance. They are accepted. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The Republic of China officially re-affirms sovereignty over Manchuria, though the territory will in actuality be run by regional warlords.[/FONT]
[FONT="]23rd September 1920[/FONT]
[FONT="]Treaty of Anghkor Wat – Japanese transfer control of Cambodia to the Kingdom of Thailand in exchange for a military alliance and for more reasonable prices for Thai metal and rubber.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1921-1926[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rule of Taisho Emperor. The Emperor’s weakness as a ruler, and his ill-health (nearly killed by a heart attack in 1926, finally succumbed to another in 1929) allow for a steady growth in democratic government, and in the consolidation of control of the military in the hands of the civilian executive.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Army is not in a position to interfere overmuch, largely because there’s too much for them to do overseas in Japan’s new possessions and allied nations [Author’s Note – little opportunity for coups or extra-curricular adventures]. The Navy, meanwhile, supports the civilian government. Even the right-wing societies have little to complain about – thanks to metals from the Philippines, a small amount of oil from Karafuto[Sakhalin], and cheap rubber (and another small amount of oil) from Vietnam, Japan’s position regarding raw materials is better than at any point in recent history. In addition, unemployment is kept at an all-time low thanks to heavy emigration to the Philippines, to Karafuto, to Formosa and to Hainan.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of Imperial Japanese Navy carrier program, largely in reaction to the USS Remembrance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1927[/FONT]
[FONT="]Large-scale uprising on Mindoro put down by Imperial Japanese Army and Moro paramilitary forces. Conflict sees the clearing of multiple villages, and the relocation of over a third of Mindoro’s native population to labour camps – the lands are redistributed to Japanese settlers, in particular former military personnel. Moro leaders are rewarded well for their loyalty [Japan is attempting to rule by permanently driving a wedge between the Christian and Muslim populations].[/FONT]
[FONT="]1930[/FONT]
[FONT="]Accession of Hirohito. Beginning of Showa period.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1931[/FONT]
[FONT="]Radical groups in the Army and Navy attempt to encourage support for ‘asymmetric warfare’ against the United States involving covert supply of arms to Canadian rebels. Ultimately, civilian government and main officer corps of the military veto the proposal – with the annexation of Germany’s Pacific Island territories, Japan has strategic depth in the Pacific, while the Philippines and former French Indochina solve many of Japan’s resource issues (though oil remains an issue), and most feel that taking the Sandwich Islands (the only possible territorial target for a war against the United States) is not worth a major conflict. Indeed, with the establishment of allied regimes in Vietnam and Laos, and the alliance with Thailand, most feel that Japan’s main strategic interests lie to the South…[/FONT]
[FONT="]Chinese warlords Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan attempt to overthrow the Kuomintang government. Zhang Xueliang [the new warlord of Manchuria] steps in to support the Nanjing government against the northern warlords in exchange for official recognition of Manchu regional autonomy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan begins heavy investment in Manchuria. [/FONT]
[FONT="]1932-1939[/FONT]
[FONT="]Turbulent time in Japanese internal politics, caused by the global recession and by a major division between the Army and Navy, caused by differences over the future of Japan’s foreign policy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Generally speaking, the Army favours retaining the alliance with Britain – this, they theorise, will allow Japan to claim the Sandwich Islands and the Dutch East Indies in the event of a future war (the Netherlands having joined the German Mitteleuropa alliance). The Army also sees China as the main focus of future expansion. The Navy, by contrast, favours abandoning the alliance in favour of making common cause with the United States and Germany. This, according to the Navy, will secure Japan’s Eastern perimeter while potentially allowing Japan to occupy the British Empire in Asia (some dreamers even suggest an invasion of Australia could be possible). More importantly, it will end the possibility of a war with the United States, something that the Navy dreads. Some Army officers support the idea of an alliance with Germany and the US – these men advocate a ‘Go North’ policy, striking into Siberia through the lands of the Manchu warlords, and they see Germany as a useful partner in taming the Russian bear.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan has become a major investor in Manchuria. Manchu forces are now mostly equipped with Japanese weaponry, something that has led to considerably hostility from the Kuomintang government.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese Army commanders have – without the consent of Tokyo – begun stationing units in Manchuria.[/FONT]
[FONT="]30th August, 1937[/FONT]
[FONT="]First victory of the Navy faction – signing of the Mutual Pacific Development Pact between the Empire of Japan and the United States of America: the Pact effectively divides the Pacific between the two powers, and sees Japan formally recognise United States rule over the Sandwich Islands, in exchange for guarantees relating to Japanese nationals resident on the islands (that their Japanese citizenship will be recognised, that they will not be exploited, etc.)[/FONT]
[FONT="]This marks the beginning of a thaw in relations between America and Japan, though many in America – including Congresswoman Flora Blackford – continue to denounce Japanese oppression of the Filipino people.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1937-1939[/FONT]
[FONT="]Increasing dialogue between Japan and Germany. German leaders fear that Britain will side with France in the event of war, and hope to neutralise the British threat with Japanese help [they gamble that, if British access to the raw materials of the Empire is impeded, then they’ll find it harder to fight in Europe – will have to choose between committing fully in Europe, or in Asia]. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Infighting between the Army and the Navy reaches an all-time high, with street-fights, demagoguery and assassination attempts becoming commonplace.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano Isoroku, Undersecretary of the Navy, is injured by an assassin’s bullet: the would-be assassin is discovered to be an Army private.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1940[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano is made Commander-in-Chief of Japanese Combined Fleet. Works to improve Japanese carrier tactics.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Empire of Japan and German Empire sign the secret (for now) Treaty of Berlin.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]British deployment of Force G to Singapore. Force G consists of the following:[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS King George V (BB)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Prince of Wales (BB)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Ajax (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Achilles (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Exeter (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Indomitable (CV)[/FONT]
[FONT="]As well as escorting destroyers[/FONT]
[FONT="]Force G is intended as a deterrent against Japanese hostilities – the Admiralty knows that, once war kicks off with Germany, they won’t have anything to spare for the Far East (given the size of the German Hochsees Flotte) so the maintenance of a large fleet-in-being is considered to be of the utmost importance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]19 June 1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]Britain and France declare war against Germany[/FONT]
[FONT="]20 June 1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]05:00 hours – Singapore Raid.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano leads the First Air Fleet in a major air raid on Singapore, attempting to destroy Force G in harbour. Carrier air from Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Mikasa links up with land-based bombers flying from Thu Dau Mot in Southern Vietnam.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Prince of Wales, Ajax [/FONT][FONT="]and Exeter are sunk, while King George V and Achilles are heavily damaged and out of action for another six months. Indomitable’s flight deck is damaged, though repairs will take less time than would be true for a Japanese carrier (armoured flight deck). Japan loses 50 aircraft, most of which are land-based aircraft.[/FONT]
[FONT="]At same time, an amphibious invasion of Hong Kong is launched, with support from Japan’s main battleship force.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1941-1944[/FONT]
[FONT="]Second Great War[/FONT]
[FONT="]By war’s end, Japan has occupied Hong Kong, Northern Borneo/Sarawak, Malaya, Singapore, Burma and Ceylon. However, their attempt to drive into India through Burma was routed at heavy cost, while they were unable to attempt an invasion of Australia due to manpower shortages – indeed, as military historians would later observe, they only managed to advance in South-East Asia thanks to regional naval superiority and major support from their South-East Asian allies – the Vietnamese and Royal Thai armies would particularly distinguish themselves, as would the Burmese National Army established by General Aung San.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Northern Front would prove to be the greatest drain of Japanese manpower. Originally, Japanese forces in Manchuria (and Zhang Xueliang’s Japanese-equipped army) were ordered to stand on the defensive, to wait until operations in the South had concluded before undertaking any offensive action. As long as Japanese forces remained on their side of the border, it was theorised, the Russians would not attack, focusing instead on the Western Front. However, Japanese regional commanders grew increasingly impatient with these orders, until two regimental commanders ordered their men across the border towards the Trans-Siberian railway – forcing the hand of their own superiors. What followed was the largest rout in Japanese military history, seeing Japanese and Manchu forces melting apart in front of a Russian counter-offensive led by Marshal Valeriy Zhukov. The war against Russia would, ultimately, see over six hundred thousand Japanese and one hundrd thousand Korean military deaths, together with two million Korean civilian casualties and over half a million Russian military deaths. A large percentage of these would meet their end in the five-month Battle of Seoul, easily the bloodiest single battle of the war. Interestingly, it was this that would see the (partial) dissolution of (some) animosity between Japanese and Korean – soldiers of both nations fought side-by-side against the Russians, whose forces in Korea became a by-word for atrocity and ill-discipline, with all the attendant horrors. It would also see the ending of Japan’s protectorate, and Korea becoming a fully sovereign ally. [/FONT]
[FONT="]As the war with Germany forced the Russians to divert more resources to the West, Japan was able to expel the Russians from Korea, and launch an invasion of Primorsky Krai. This invasion cost Japan dearly in men, but a lack of supplies and falling morale among the Russians allowed the capture of Vladivostok in 1943. At the same time, the Republic of China declared war on Russia, deploying troops into occupied Manchuria and into Mongolia. Ultimately, both were able to advance rapidly in the aftermath of the superbombing of Petrograd, occupying territory.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The war also saw a renewed uprising in the Philippines, one that was only put down after a four-month military campaign.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1945[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan establishes allied regimes in Burma and Sri Lanka. The Northern Half of the Malay Peninsula is given to Thailand, while the South and Northern Borneo are occupied as the ‘Malay Protectorate’. Singapore and Hong Kong are annexed as overseas prefectures of Japan – Singapore in particular becomes a major forward base for the Imperial Japanese Navy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]To the North, Japan annexes Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai and Kamchatka, with German approval (they want to make sure Russia is weakened for the foreseeable future). [/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan will ship in large numbers of settlers to the former Russian territory over the next three decades [as well as quietly expelling Russians] and gives official encouragement for large families – seeking to dominate Siberia through numbers within the next twenty to thirty years. Most will find work with a growing mining and metalworking industry, as iron ore, pyrolusite (manganese ore), molybdena (molybdenum ore), coal, and bauxite (aluminum ore) deposits will be exploited to the maximum. Khabarovsk sees a major wave of construction, particularly of blast furnaces, smelters and coke ovens – facilities which will be worked by Japanese settlers. In return for ‘considerations’ [ie, a share of the loot for reasonable prices], Germany will provide capital and expert advisors to support Japan’s industrial endeavours in Siberia. [/FONT]
[FONT="]China declares the restoration of sovereignty over Manchuria, annexes Tuva and Mongolia, and creates the ‘United Turkic Republic’ in former Russian Central Asia (puppet regime and major source of oil and gas).[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan joins the Global Summit, becomes a member of the Security Council [other members are the United States, the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey].[/FONT]
[FONT="]Official creation of Greater East Asia Treaty Organisation: military alliance made up of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1945-1959[/FONT]
[FONT="]‘Hungry Years’. During this time, Japan has to deal with the economic and social implications of the war [ie death toll, sheer cost of the war, the fact that thanks to the dearth of men, women had to be employed in ever-larger numbers…][/FONT]
[FONT="]Downsizing of Imperial Japanese Army – most conscripts are demobilised [many of the professional forces are transferred to Siberia and the Philippines]. Conscription suspended, will be abolished in five years in favour of a small, professional army. Navy reorganisation undertaken: agreed that the IJN will always maintain a core of six fleet carriers. Outdated units and the majority of Japan’s battleship fleet are sold either for scrap or to Japan’s allies in return for bulk shipments of resources.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1959 [/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of major industrial boom in Japan, as resource flow from Siberia is regularised. Over the next few years, Japan will become a major exporter of metals.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese automobile manufacturers start producing licensed copies of GM and Ford vehicles. Japanese cities become manufacturing hubs for heavy machinery [Author’s note – Japanese economy is quite different to OTL – geared towards heavy industry rather than electronics, more like OTL Germany post WWII. Also, rural and town life will continue in a traditional pattern, while socially Japan remains very Japanese – no Americanisation].[/FONT]
[FONT="]1960[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan test-detonates first superbomb.
Thoughts? Reasonable or total ASB?
[/FONT]
I'm fairly new here, so this might have been done before. If so, sorry about that. I'm a big fan of TL-191, but the way that Japan was basically identical to OTL except that it was also a gigantic Karma Houdini annoyed me. Especially as its war with America made no sense - why go to war with a bigger power over such a meagre reward as the Sandwich Islands? So I came up with a different path for Japan to take.
This isn't a fully developed timeline (or anywhere near it), just an overview of events. Also, I'm assuming that the Meiji Restoration happened as OTL since Turtledove did, and I've got OTL figures mentioned since, well, in TL-191 a lot of people seemed to be immune to butterflies.
[FONT="]1853-1854[/FONT]
[FONT="]Commodore Matthew Galbraith Perry leads a United States naval and diplomatic mission to Japan.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1868-1869[/FONT]
[FONT="]Boshin War: partisans of the Tokugawa Shogunate confront pro-imperial forces.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The war ends with an imperial victory and the Meiji Restoration.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1894-1895[/FONT]
[FONT="] Sino-Japanese War: Japan takes Liaodong Peninsula, Formosa and Hainan. [/FONT]
[FONT="]1901[/FONT]
[FONT="]Spanish-Japanese War[/FONT]
[FONT="]Defeat of Spanish fleet at Battle of Luzon Strait by Combined Fleet under Admiral Togo Heihachiro.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese land forces drive Spanish forces from the islands in a three-month campaign. The land portion of the war inspires the composition of the popular war song ‘Senyuu’, ‘Comrade-in-arms’.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Empire of Japan formally annexes Guam and the Philippines, with a Japanese Governor-General being installed in Manila.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1902[/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of Japanese settlement of Luzon, Mindoro and the Visayas. In exchange for recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the islands, the Moro people are given a wide range of autonomy in Mindanao, and the island is kept clear of Japanese colonists.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A series of negotiations takes place between the Empire of Japan and the Russian Empire. Ultimately, Japan recognises Russian interests in Manchuria, in exchange for a formal recognition from Russia that Korea lies within Japan’s sphere of influence.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1903-1907[/FONT]
[FONT="]This period sees considerable Japanese investment in the Philippines, Formosa and Hainan. Projects to improve sanitation in the cities begin (British experts are contracted to build storm drains and sewers), public clinics are opened, training programmes begin to educate native doctors and nurses (provided they learn Japanese), economic and industrial expansion begins. This is particularly evident in the Philippines, with the opening of new mines and the construction of blast furnaces to better take advantage of the islands’ metal wealth.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1907[/FONT]
[FONT="]Protectorate established over the Empire of Korea. Prince Ito Hirobumi becomes Resident-General.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1909[/FONT]
[FONT="]Attempted assassination of Prince Ito Hirobumi by Korean nationalist An Jung-geun fails – his realisation of the strength of Korean nationalism leads him to argue for maintaining the protectorate rather than annexing Korea. The death penalty is withheld after the Prince enters a plea for clemency in his trial – An’s sentence is commuted to ten years’ hard labour.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Empire of Korea is ultimately not annexed. Though Japan continues to exert a great deal of political and economic influence over the peninsula, it remains de jure an independent nation.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1914-1918[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Great War.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan participates on the side of the Entente, though does not formally join the alliance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]At war’s end, Japan is able to withdraw without making concessions – Germany is too exhausted militarily and financially to attempt to recover Tsingtao and the Micronesian islands, and in any case the gains made in Africa and Eastern Europe more than make up for any losses in the Far East.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1916[/FONT]
[FONT="]Battle of Three Navies: IJN Combined Fleet under Admiral Togo joins with a Royal Navy task force in an attempted attack on the Sandwich Islands. Battle is a draw, though a victory for the United States as Anglo-Japanese forces are unable to continue their advance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Among the Japanese forces is Kaigun Daii (Lieutenant) Takano Isoroku, serving aboard the cruiser Yakumo. As well as losing his left eye in this battle, he pays particular attention to the use of scouting aircraft by the Americans…[/FONT]
[FONT="]1919[/FONT]
[FONT="]The deteriorating internal situations in France – marred by near-civil war between Socialist groups and right-wing militias – and Russia lead Japan to occupy Sakhalin Island and French Indochina, in the ‘interest of regional peace and security’. Though both nations protest vehemently, they are unable to intervene – restrictions on the French military and an ongoing Red rebellion in Russia prevent both nations taking any military action.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With regard to France, Japan softens the blow with a ‘compensatory payment’ and by agreeing to purchase the dreadnaught battleships Courbet, France and Jean-Bart (which France was going to be compelled to scrap anyway, under the terms of the peace with Germany). These ships will later be refitted as Mikasa, Fuji and Asahi. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Lieutenant-Commander Takano Isoroku is sent – by the Imperial Japanese Navy – to study at University of Richmond. While in the Confederacy, he travels widely, including to the Empire of Mexico and to the United States.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1920[/FONT]
[FONT="]Establishment of Empire of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty and the Kingdom of Laos. Both nations sign a series of treaties with Japan, effectively becoming semi-protectorates (somewhat more autonomous than Korea) and agreeing to provide resources at cheap prices.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Uprising in Korea by Christian republicans against the Japanese-backed Kingdom – order is restored after three months of fighting. The Army presses strongly for annexation, but ultimately the protectorate is maintained.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Fearing a Japanese assault on the East Indies, the Netherlands applies for membership in Germany’s Mitteleuropa alliance. They are accepted. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The Republic of China officially re-affirms sovereignty over Manchuria, though the territory will in actuality be run by regional warlords.[/FONT]
[FONT="]23rd September 1920[/FONT]
[FONT="]Treaty of Anghkor Wat – Japanese transfer control of Cambodia to the Kingdom of Thailand in exchange for a military alliance and for more reasonable prices for Thai metal and rubber.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1921-1926[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rule of Taisho Emperor. The Emperor’s weakness as a ruler, and his ill-health (nearly killed by a heart attack in 1926, finally succumbed to another in 1929) allow for a steady growth in democratic government, and in the consolidation of control of the military in the hands of the civilian executive.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Army is not in a position to interfere overmuch, largely because there’s too much for them to do overseas in Japan’s new possessions and allied nations [Author’s Note – little opportunity for coups or extra-curricular adventures]. The Navy, meanwhile, supports the civilian government. Even the right-wing societies have little to complain about – thanks to metals from the Philippines, a small amount of oil from Karafuto[Sakhalin], and cheap rubber (and another small amount of oil) from Vietnam, Japan’s position regarding raw materials is better than at any point in recent history. In addition, unemployment is kept at an all-time low thanks to heavy emigration to the Philippines, to Karafuto, to Formosa and to Hainan.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of Imperial Japanese Navy carrier program, largely in reaction to the USS Remembrance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1927[/FONT]
[FONT="]Large-scale uprising on Mindoro put down by Imperial Japanese Army and Moro paramilitary forces. Conflict sees the clearing of multiple villages, and the relocation of over a third of Mindoro’s native population to labour camps – the lands are redistributed to Japanese settlers, in particular former military personnel. Moro leaders are rewarded well for their loyalty [Japan is attempting to rule by permanently driving a wedge between the Christian and Muslim populations].[/FONT]
[FONT="]1930[/FONT]
[FONT="]Accession of Hirohito. Beginning of Showa period.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1931[/FONT]
[FONT="]Radical groups in the Army and Navy attempt to encourage support for ‘asymmetric warfare’ against the United States involving covert supply of arms to Canadian rebels. Ultimately, civilian government and main officer corps of the military veto the proposal – with the annexation of Germany’s Pacific Island territories, Japan has strategic depth in the Pacific, while the Philippines and former French Indochina solve many of Japan’s resource issues (though oil remains an issue), and most feel that taking the Sandwich Islands (the only possible territorial target for a war against the United States) is not worth a major conflict. Indeed, with the establishment of allied regimes in Vietnam and Laos, and the alliance with Thailand, most feel that Japan’s main strategic interests lie to the South…[/FONT]
[FONT="]Chinese warlords Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan attempt to overthrow the Kuomintang government. Zhang Xueliang [the new warlord of Manchuria] steps in to support the Nanjing government against the northern warlords in exchange for official recognition of Manchu regional autonomy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan begins heavy investment in Manchuria. [/FONT]
[FONT="]1932-1939[/FONT]
[FONT="]Turbulent time in Japanese internal politics, caused by the global recession and by a major division between the Army and Navy, caused by differences over the future of Japan’s foreign policy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Generally speaking, the Army favours retaining the alliance with Britain – this, they theorise, will allow Japan to claim the Sandwich Islands and the Dutch East Indies in the event of a future war (the Netherlands having joined the German Mitteleuropa alliance). The Army also sees China as the main focus of future expansion. The Navy, by contrast, favours abandoning the alliance in favour of making common cause with the United States and Germany. This, according to the Navy, will secure Japan’s Eastern perimeter while potentially allowing Japan to occupy the British Empire in Asia (some dreamers even suggest an invasion of Australia could be possible). More importantly, it will end the possibility of a war with the United States, something that the Navy dreads. Some Army officers support the idea of an alliance with Germany and the US – these men advocate a ‘Go North’ policy, striking into Siberia through the lands of the Manchu warlords, and they see Germany as a useful partner in taming the Russian bear.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan has become a major investor in Manchuria. Manchu forces are now mostly equipped with Japanese weaponry, something that has led to considerably hostility from the Kuomintang government.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese Army commanders have – without the consent of Tokyo – begun stationing units in Manchuria.[/FONT]
[FONT="]30th August, 1937[/FONT]
[FONT="]First victory of the Navy faction – signing of the Mutual Pacific Development Pact between the Empire of Japan and the United States of America: the Pact effectively divides the Pacific between the two powers, and sees Japan formally recognise United States rule over the Sandwich Islands, in exchange for guarantees relating to Japanese nationals resident on the islands (that their Japanese citizenship will be recognised, that they will not be exploited, etc.)[/FONT]
[FONT="]This marks the beginning of a thaw in relations between America and Japan, though many in America – including Congresswoman Flora Blackford – continue to denounce Japanese oppression of the Filipino people.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1937-1939[/FONT]
[FONT="]Increasing dialogue between Japan and Germany. German leaders fear that Britain will side with France in the event of war, and hope to neutralise the British threat with Japanese help [they gamble that, if British access to the raw materials of the Empire is impeded, then they’ll find it harder to fight in Europe – will have to choose between committing fully in Europe, or in Asia]. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Infighting between the Army and the Navy reaches an all-time high, with street-fights, demagoguery and assassination attempts becoming commonplace.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano Isoroku, Undersecretary of the Navy, is injured by an assassin’s bullet: the would-be assassin is discovered to be an Army private.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1940[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano is made Commander-in-Chief of Japanese Combined Fleet. Works to improve Japanese carrier tactics.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Empire of Japan and German Empire sign the secret (for now) Treaty of Berlin.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]British deployment of Force G to Singapore. Force G consists of the following:[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS King George V (BB)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Prince of Wales (BB)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Ajax (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Achilles (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Exeter (CA)[/FONT]
[FONT="]HMS Indomitable (CV)[/FONT]
[FONT="]As well as escorting destroyers[/FONT]
[FONT="]Force G is intended as a deterrent against Japanese hostilities – the Admiralty knows that, once war kicks off with Germany, they won’t have anything to spare for the Far East (given the size of the German Hochsees Flotte) so the maintenance of a large fleet-in-being is considered to be of the utmost importance.[/FONT]
[FONT="]19 June 1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]Britain and France declare war against Germany[/FONT]
[FONT="]20 June 1941[/FONT]
[FONT="]05:00 hours – Singapore Raid.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Admiral Takano leads the First Air Fleet in a major air raid on Singapore, attempting to destroy Force G in harbour. Carrier air from Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Mikasa links up with land-based bombers flying from Thu Dau Mot in Southern Vietnam.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Prince of Wales, Ajax [/FONT][FONT="]and Exeter are sunk, while King George V and Achilles are heavily damaged and out of action for another six months. Indomitable’s flight deck is damaged, though repairs will take less time than would be true for a Japanese carrier (armoured flight deck). Japan loses 50 aircraft, most of which are land-based aircraft.[/FONT]
[FONT="]At same time, an amphibious invasion of Hong Kong is launched, with support from Japan’s main battleship force.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1941-1944[/FONT]
[FONT="]Second Great War[/FONT]
[FONT="]By war’s end, Japan has occupied Hong Kong, Northern Borneo/Sarawak, Malaya, Singapore, Burma and Ceylon. However, their attempt to drive into India through Burma was routed at heavy cost, while they were unable to attempt an invasion of Australia due to manpower shortages – indeed, as military historians would later observe, they only managed to advance in South-East Asia thanks to regional naval superiority and major support from their South-East Asian allies – the Vietnamese and Royal Thai armies would particularly distinguish themselves, as would the Burmese National Army established by General Aung San.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Northern Front would prove to be the greatest drain of Japanese manpower. Originally, Japanese forces in Manchuria (and Zhang Xueliang’s Japanese-equipped army) were ordered to stand on the defensive, to wait until operations in the South had concluded before undertaking any offensive action. As long as Japanese forces remained on their side of the border, it was theorised, the Russians would not attack, focusing instead on the Western Front. However, Japanese regional commanders grew increasingly impatient with these orders, until two regimental commanders ordered their men across the border towards the Trans-Siberian railway – forcing the hand of their own superiors. What followed was the largest rout in Japanese military history, seeing Japanese and Manchu forces melting apart in front of a Russian counter-offensive led by Marshal Valeriy Zhukov. The war against Russia would, ultimately, see over six hundred thousand Japanese and one hundrd thousand Korean military deaths, together with two million Korean civilian casualties and over half a million Russian military deaths. A large percentage of these would meet their end in the five-month Battle of Seoul, easily the bloodiest single battle of the war. Interestingly, it was this that would see the (partial) dissolution of (some) animosity between Japanese and Korean – soldiers of both nations fought side-by-side against the Russians, whose forces in Korea became a by-word for atrocity and ill-discipline, with all the attendant horrors. It would also see the ending of Japan’s protectorate, and Korea becoming a fully sovereign ally. [/FONT]
[FONT="]As the war with Germany forced the Russians to divert more resources to the West, Japan was able to expel the Russians from Korea, and launch an invasion of Primorsky Krai. This invasion cost Japan dearly in men, but a lack of supplies and falling morale among the Russians allowed the capture of Vladivostok in 1943. At the same time, the Republic of China declared war on Russia, deploying troops into occupied Manchuria and into Mongolia. Ultimately, both were able to advance rapidly in the aftermath of the superbombing of Petrograd, occupying territory.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The war also saw a renewed uprising in the Philippines, one that was only put down after a four-month military campaign.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1945[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan establishes allied regimes in Burma and Sri Lanka. The Northern Half of the Malay Peninsula is given to Thailand, while the South and Northern Borneo are occupied as the ‘Malay Protectorate’. Singapore and Hong Kong are annexed as overseas prefectures of Japan – Singapore in particular becomes a major forward base for the Imperial Japanese Navy.[/FONT]
[FONT="]To the North, Japan annexes Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai and Kamchatka, with German approval (they want to make sure Russia is weakened for the foreseeable future). [/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan will ship in large numbers of settlers to the former Russian territory over the next three decades [as well as quietly expelling Russians] and gives official encouragement for large families – seeking to dominate Siberia through numbers within the next twenty to thirty years. Most will find work with a growing mining and metalworking industry, as iron ore, pyrolusite (manganese ore), molybdena (molybdenum ore), coal, and bauxite (aluminum ore) deposits will be exploited to the maximum. Khabarovsk sees a major wave of construction, particularly of blast furnaces, smelters and coke ovens – facilities which will be worked by Japanese settlers. In return for ‘considerations’ [ie, a share of the loot for reasonable prices], Germany will provide capital and expert advisors to support Japan’s industrial endeavours in Siberia. [/FONT]
[FONT="]China declares the restoration of sovereignty over Manchuria, annexes Tuva and Mongolia, and creates the ‘United Turkic Republic’ in former Russian Central Asia (puppet regime and major source of oil and gas).[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan joins the Global Summit, becomes a member of the Security Council [other members are the United States, the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Turkey].[/FONT]
[FONT="]Official creation of Greater East Asia Treaty Organisation: military alliance made up of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1945-1959[/FONT]
[FONT="]‘Hungry Years’. During this time, Japan has to deal with the economic and social implications of the war [ie death toll, sheer cost of the war, the fact that thanks to the dearth of men, women had to be employed in ever-larger numbers…][/FONT]
[FONT="]Downsizing of Imperial Japanese Army – most conscripts are demobilised [many of the professional forces are transferred to Siberia and the Philippines]. Conscription suspended, will be abolished in five years in favour of a small, professional army. Navy reorganisation undertaken: agreed that the IJN will always maintain a core of six fleet carriers. Outdated units and the majority of Japan’s battleship fleet are sold either for scrap or to Japan’s allies in return for bulk shipments of resources.[/FONT]
[FONT="]1959 [/FONT]
[FONT="]Beginning of major industrial boom in Japan, as resource flow from Siberia is regularised. Over the next few years, Japan will become a major exporter of metals.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japanese automobile manufacturers start producing licensed copies of GM and Ford vehicles. Japanese cities become manufacturing hubs for heavy machinery [Author’s note – Japanese economy is quite different to OTL – geared towards heavy industry rather than electronics, more like OTL Germany post WWII. Also, rural and town life will continue in a traditional pattern, while socially Japan remains very Japanese – no Americanisation].[/FONT]
[FONT="]1960[/FONT]
[FONT="]Japan test-detonates first superbomb.
Thoughts? Reasonable or total ASB?
[/FONT]
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